An animation is an art form that expresses both visuals and emotions by creating the illusion of motion through the use of sequential images that minimally differ from each other. Animation applies to both traditional and computer graphic forms, but it is more commonly known as the motion picture arts. To create animation, multiple images must be created in order with each image slightly differing from the previous one. This technique is known as stop-motion animation. Through the different appearance of each image or “frame,” an optical illusion is created making it appear as if there is motion where there actually is none. In this respect, animation can have a distinct advantage over live-action film because rather than requiring actors, scenery, and props, only specialized equipment and software are needed.
Animation software is used by animators to create motion graphics on a single-frame basis. Individual frames are combined to create motion graphics used for video games and animated movies. The software for animation plays an important role in the creation of the animation movie. It is the software that is used for making sketches of an image, character, or object. We are here to make you familiar with the best animation software on the market.
The first thing that comes to our mind when we talk about animation is images or videos that move. Generally, animation software is software that helps create images and videos for movies and other multimedia. Apart from movies and video clips, animations can also be used in other media such as Web pages to enhance the user experience, and also in photo editing software to correct or remove objects from a picture.
Animaker
Launched in 2014, Animaker is a do it yourself (DIY) 2d animation software and video editor. It offers a wide range of services, including aiding users to create animated videos using in-built videos and infographics.
In 2017, it launched a vertical video creator tool (animated), the first animation company to do so.
Best for:
The in-built templates are extremely self-sufficient for basic animation work, including educational tutorials and classroom teaching.
Key Features:
- It is a cloud-based animation and video maker for GIF, short video, and live video editing
- Uses HTML and Adobe Flash
- Can directly upload animated videos to platforms like Facebook and YouTube (videos can also be downloaded as mp4 extension)
- Offers Google Chrome extension
- Has one of the largest collections of animated characters, properties, icons, charts, and maps
- Offers video creation in six different, unique styles and video layouts
- Offers video infographics
- Allows you to edit and customize explainer videos (text-to-speech, background music tracks, more than 100 sound effects)
Pros:
- Pro-level features (record, multi-movie, camera, curve, transition effects, enter, and exit effects)
- Animaker deck (pools all the features of animated videos and convenience of powerpoint on the same platform)
- Audio features include voice over and auto lip sync for characters
- Text support for more than 50languages (custom font support)
- Export video in full HD (1080 p)
Cons:
- At times, previewing can make the video lag
- Sometimes there are errors in case of video upload
- The free version does not offer HD animation
Pencil2D
Image courtesy of Pencil2D
This 2D animation software allows users to create more traditional, hand-drawn scenes. This is accomplished using bitmap and vector graphics. Not only is Pencil2D free, but it is an open-source animation software.
Pencil2D offers a number of features to make animation easy, including but not limited to:
- A lightweight and easy design interface
- The ability to seamlessly switch between raster and vector files
- Cross-platform functionality to facilitate operation on Mac, Windows and Linux
DAZ Studio
Platforms: Windows and Mac
DAZ Studio is a free animation software that you can use to pose, render and animate 3D figures. Simply register, download the software, and you are good to go.
This free animation app is user-friendly, has a super-fast design engine, and an enormous library containing materials that you can use to whip up high-quality animations. This allows its users to cover a lot of info in little time. DAZ Studio is not only for amateurs but for pros as well.
Daz 3D is the developer behind DAZ Studio and was once responsible for re-releasing the popular software Bryce 5.5 as a freeware after acquiring Bryce from Corel.
That means you’re in good hands if you decide to try out this free 3D animation software for yourself.
Pros: Intuitive interface; photorealistic images; powerful engine
Cons: Fine-tuning animations can be clunky
Blender
Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux
Use Blender if you’re looking for the best video animation software for pro editors and creators. The free open-source 3D animation tool supports the “modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, video editing, and 2D animation pipeline.” The platform is a public project, and creatives from all over the world contribute to its ongoing maintenance.
Let’s talk features.
- Rendering: Cycles is Blender’s ray-trace based production render engine, FreeStyle is an edge- and line-based non-photorealistic (NPR) rendering engine, and real-time feedback speeds up the editing process.
- Modeling: Blender’s modeling tools include sculpting, retopology, modeling, curves, and more to help with editing models.
- Sculpting: Digital sculpting tools flexible for each stage of the digital production pipeline.
- Animation and rigging: These tools include a character animation pose editor, Non Linear Animation (NLA) for independent movements, IK forward/inverse kinematics for fast poses, and sound synchronization.
- Grease pencil: Draw directly in 3D and combine 2D/3D art.
- VFX: From camera and object motion tracking to masking and compositing, there are lots of fixes you can make in post-prod.
- Simulation: Create simulations for fog, smoke, rain, fire, liquid, and more.
- Pipeline: Choose from a long list of import/export options.
- Video editing: A built-in video editor allows for basic actions like video cuts and splicing and more complex tasks like video masking or color grading.
Yeah, that’s a lot. Blender is a comprehensive tool. And it’s all free.
Synfig Studio
Platforms: Windows, Mac, and Linux
The next free video animation online is Synfig Studio, an open-source platform for creating 2D animated videos. With it, you use vector graphics to create timeline-based animations.
Like OpenToonz, it offers a bone system for animation controls so you can create natural movements. Create cutout animation using bitmap images or control your vector artwork, and use the additional Skeleton Distortion layer for complex deformations to bitmap artwork.
Advanced features include linking parameters for layers, allowing you to build character puppets and other advanced dynamic structures. It’s certainly not made for beginners, so turn to an easier option to get started before upgrading to Synfig’s advanced feature set. There are plenty of video tutorials to help you get used to the program.
Animation Paper
Platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux (Android & iPad Pro with Pencil planned)
This free animation software is the follow-up to the highly popular Plastic Animation Paper 4.0 (PAP 4.0) and has earned its place among the plethora of free animation apps available.
Mac users will be happy to note this newer, more concisely-named version – Animation Paper – is available for both Windows and Mac unlike its predecessor.
But you’ll have to get in while the getting is good as it is currently in its alpha state and will remain free throughout both the alpha and beta state releases. Once it’s out of beta, you’ll have to cough up $79 if you want to upgrade to the final version. But you don’t have to upgrade, as you’ll still have access to the alpha or beta versions you’ve already installed.
If you want a finished product, and still don’t want to pay, PAP 4.0 is always free. But remember, this earlier product is for Windows only.
Animation Paper reimagined PAP 4.0 from the ground up, aiming for a more minimalistic and intuitive design. This free 2D animation software will remind you of traditional light-table animation, complete with onion-skinning, light setup, layers, and black, blue, red and green pens for planning and drafting poses and scenes. The application layout is unfussy and simple but packed with features for traditional animation. For many, it will be worthwhile to take the tutorials on YouTube.
When you are familiar with the numerous little icons (placed in well-designed minimalist windows around the workspace) and their capabilities, you’ll find there is a lot you can do with this free animation software.
The free animation app supports your pressure-sensitive Wacom pen, has touch-screen support and has intuitive shortcuts built in for zooming, rotating and toggling between the draw and erase modes – and other little conveniences whose absence can be frustrating.
Pros: Great for traditional, hand-drawn animation; intuitive interface
Cons: Slow release schedule
Adobe Animate
Adobe Animate is a vector and 2d animation software that’s designed for web and mobile app development.https://4e6f930ed0588a1b0609590914d3005b.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
You can animate vector graphics, create interactive content, add effects, and more. This software also has built-in templates that you can customize to your liking.
Best for:
Adobe Animate is designed for people who want to either animate vector graphics, create interactive content, add effects, and more. This software also has built-in templates that can be customized to your liking. Adobe Animate is best for people who want to create animations or interactive web pages.
Advanced Features:
- Use Adobe Animate to animate vector graphics.
- Create interactive content with Adobe Animate’s features.
- Create content with simple drag-and-drop actions.
- Add effects to your animations with Adobe Animate’s built-in templates, such as the color and tone effects, the temporal effect for video, and more.
Pros:
- Extensive support for animation of vector graphics
- Built-in templates for simple customizations and interactive content
- Color and tone effects, temporal effect on video, and more.
Pricing:
Here is a simple breakdown of Adobe Animate’s pricing:
Adobe Animate costs $20.99 per month for the personal version.
If you want to get access to all of Adobe’s products you can pay $52.99 per month and get access to all of their tools.
Either way Adobe Animate offers a free trial that you can try 100% risk-free.
Krita
Platforms: Windows, Mac and Linux
Krita is yet another great free animation software for artists, new and veteran alike. It has an intuitive user interface made for digital artists.
Formerly a digital painting software similar to Photoshop and Paint.Net, Krita now supports animation via onion-skinning and frame-by-frame raster animation thanks to the sheer amount of support for a 2015 Kickstarter. Krita also has drawing tablet and touch screen support.
Krita has a strong open-source community that carries a plethora of resources to get you going, from video tutorials to documentation on vector graphics, japanese animation templates and downloadable content such as brush presets and texture packs.
It even has a programming feature involving scripting using the ever popular programming language Python. All of this makes this free 2D animation software quite customizable to your needs.
This free animation program is available for free across all platforms including Linux.
Pros: Strong open-source community; good for painting
Cons: Random crashing
Conclusion:
With all the software that is available to create animations, which one is best? The answer to this question depends on what you are using the software for. If you are an artist, you will have a different set of needs than a hobbyist or a small business owner. The following article explains the differences between different types of animation software so that you can find the right software for your situation.